Chapter 85: A Prime Candidate for a Toady
Su Yongshi was on the afternoon shift today, so once Cao Hongmei finished making dinner, Su He and the rest went ahead and ate first.
At the dinner table, Su He asked, “Is everything normal with my second uncle?”
Cao Hongmei quickly replied, “Yes, yes! Little Su, your second uncle has truly turned over a new leaf. If anything were to happen, he’d definitely tell you right away—he wouldn’t act on his own again.”
Su Jinbao nodded earnestly, “Sis, what Mom said is true. Dad’s learned his lesson this time.”
Even if he hadn’t, no worries—he’d be watching him like a hawk anyway!
Su He didn’t want Tie Zhu to feel left out, so she asked about his schoolwork.
Tie Zhu clenched his fists tightly and said, “I—I’ll work hard.”
So Sister Little Su likes younger brothers who study well? Then he would definitely become a top student from now on!
Su He encouraged him a bit, then asked Cao Hongmei about her night school studies. At that, Cao Hongmei’s expression dimmed.
Su He raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”
A little embarrassed, Cao Hongmei replied, “It’s nothing serious. It’s just that most of the students at night school are factory cadres. Only your second uncle and I are regular workers. Plus, we don’t have a solid academic foundation, so some people like to talk behind our backs.
But it’s fine—we just pretend we don’t hear it and carry on as usual.”
Su He didn’t think too much of it. Wherever there are people, there will be conflicts and hierarchies. If you want to stand tall, you’ve got to rely on your own strength.
But then, something occurred to her.
It’s 1975 now. In two years, the first college entrance exams would resume. Night school could be a huge opportunity!
So she said, “After I settle my eldest uncle’s situation, I’ll go visit the night school.”
Cao Hongmei thought Su He meant to stand up for her and Su Yongshi, and was immediately touched. “Little Su, that’s really not necessary. Your uncle and I took a lot of crap when we were temp workers. A little gossip at night school is nothing.”
Su He didn’t correct her misunderstanding. She just said vaguely, “Well, I’ve got nothing else going on—I’ll just drop by and take a look.”
Cao Hongmei was even more moved and felt Su He was just too good to her. When Su He left, she pulled out a piece of fabric from a box and asked her to bring it to Old Madam Zhao.
Su He tried to decline, but seeing that Cao Hongmei sincerely wanted to give it, she accepted it in the end.
Su Jinbao blinked his eyes a few times, then dashed into his room. A moment later, he came back with half a bag of sponge cakes and a few fruit candies.
“Sis, Gou Dan is half a year younger than me. He’s my little brother, so this is from me to him!”
Su He: “……”
Well, credit where it’s due—this brat definitely had the brains to be a top-tier toady!
Su He praised Su Jinbao, then said, “I went to the supply store today and already bought some snacks for Gou Dan. You keep these for yourself.”
Su Jinbao put on a grudging expression: “Alright then, I’ll just eat them myself!”
Inside, he was over the moon!
Su He didn’t burst his bubble and returned to the bungalow before it got dark.
She had bought a bag of rose petals at the Exchange Market System and took a luxurious petal bath. She’d thought of buying a face mask, but looking at her dewy, glowing face in the mirror, she figured it wasn’t necessary.
Sigh… Born beautiful—it really is a burden.
She hadn’t slept well the past couple of days, so this time she slept deeply and sweetly.
The next morning, Su He grabbed her net shopping bag and hopped on the minibus to Qiping Commune.
Last time, she had too much on her mind to talk much, but now that she had the letter of understanding in hand, her extroverted instincts kicked in, and she quickly struck up a conversation with the bus conductor.
By the time she got off, the conductor was reluctantly holding her hand, as if they were long-lost sisters!
Su He went straight to see Director Tang.
As soon as they met, Director Tang said, “Little Su, you’re here to ask about Fan Zhen, aren’t you?
We’ve questioned him. Turns out, he was bored that day and took his dog to the meadow.
Later, he got sleepy and found a spot to nap, which is when the whole mess happened.
He had already made a big mistake by abandoning his post, but then he had the nerve to blame the whole thing on your uncle. Truly despicable…”
Su He nodded and handed him the letter of understanding.
“Director Tang, this is a letter from the Agricultural Supplies Office. Will this do?”
Director Tang was still venting about Fan Zhen’s character, and took the letter without really registering it.
When he finally looked at the contents, his jaw dropped.
They weren’t pursuing responsibility and they didn’t want any compensation?
If not for the bright red official seal at the bottom, he would have thought Su He forged it herself!
“This… this… how on earth did you convince Professor Qu?”
Su He smiled. “I just reasoned with him and appealed to his feelings. Professor Qu is understanding and easy to talk to. As soon as I explained things, he agreed.”
Director Tang: …If I hadn’t met that stubborn man myself, I might’ve actually believed you!
But he didn’t press further. “Even with the letter, we still need to follow procedure. Come by tomorrow to pick him up.”
Su He nodded. “Got it. Thank you! Oh, by the way, could I borrow a bicycle?”
Director Tang: “…Sure.”
You really don’t see yourself as an outsider, huh?
Su He rode the borrowed bicycle to the commune’s State-owned Mall. She bought ten jin of refined flour, a barrel of soybean oil, and a strip of pork belly, and then headed to Old Madam Zhao’s house.
She hadn’t even entered the yard when she heard Madam Zhang yelling.
“Don’t think that little tramp Su He fooled me and I’ll back off!
Same thing I said before—my daughter Jinping may not have earned merit, but she suffered for your Zhao family! You must pay up, or we’ll take Gou Dan away!”
Madam Zhang had gone home the other day and only realized after the fact that Su He had tricked her.
So, after hearing Su He and Su Yongguo were gone, she came over to make a scene.
Old Madam Zhao kept pleading, only to be met with even more vicious shouting.
Su He didn’t really like Old Madam Zhao’s personality—always crying when problems arose, way too soft.
Zhao Cui’er’s personality was somewhat similar to her mother’s, though not as bad.
As a younger person, Su He couldn’t openly criticize Old Madam Zhao, so… she redirected her anger toward Madam Zhang.
She parked the bike and stepped inside.
When Madam Zhang saw Su He storm in, full of fury, she instinctively trembled.
Su He’s face was cold. “Madam Zhang, what did I say to you last time? Do you have a bad memory or a bad brain?
You really think I was just bluffing last time?
Do you want me to go to the station and report you?
Sure, I don’t know exactly what skeletons you’ve got in your closet. But the comrades at the station will definitely find out!
Oh right, isn’t your family background even worse than my grandpa’s? Who knows what else they might dig up!”
Madam Zhang’s face went pale, but she still tried to shout, “Y-You’re full of nonsense! I have a clean conscience! And what, the station belongs to your family now? Even if you report me, no one will listen!”
Su He sneered. “Oh? Then come out to the yard and take a look at the bicycle I’m riding.”
Madam Zhang scoffed, “Why should I care whose bike you’re riding? What, it belongs to the station now?!”
Su He nodded. “Correct! It is the station’s.”
Madam Zhang didn’t believe her, but she still went out to check.
One look—and she panicked.
Back then, bicycles all had license plates. The station’s officers often rode them around the villages, so Madam Zhang recognized the plate.
Not only was it from the station—it was Director Tang’s usual bike.
